President Bush's address last night outlining his five points on immigration reform adopted the key elements of the Hagel-Martinez Senate compromise (for the transcript, see below). Comprehensive immigration reform gained momentum with President Bush's address which was delivered from the Oval Office (Oval Office addresses are uncommon in politics). The Senate has begun to vote on amendments to S. 2611, the Hagel-Martinez immigration reform compromise. The first two votes on the amendments have gone against the anti-immigrationists' side. We encourage our readers to continue to push for comprehensive immigration reform in 2006.

We welcome readers to share their opinion and ideas with us by writing to editor@ilw.com.

The curriculum for ILW.COM's latest 3-part telephone seminar series is as follows:

FIRST Phone Session on May 25, 2006: Business Immigration Issues - Part 1

Bi-specialization: where to file new cases? Where to file
concurrent I-140/I-485 cases? What's the impact of bi-specialization?

Employment Verification and Enforcement: how to prepare clients
for an audit? How to advise clients on contractor issues? How to advise
employers on "no-match" letters from the social security administration?
What civil and criminal penalties are possible from an ICE investigation?

PERM and Backlog Update: What issues are leading to Notice of
Intent to Deny from the backlog centers? What are the common issues in
denial of PERM cases? How to reopen a case at the backlog center that has
been erroneously closed? What to do if a "45-day letter" has not been
received?

Anticipating the H-1b Cap: which employers are exempt from the
cap? Which foreign nationals are exempt from the cap? Can foreign students
remain in the U.S. while waiting for an October 1st H-1b? Can foreign
nationals "volunteer" while waiting for an H-1b? Must employers terminate
foreign student employees caught in the H-1b cap or is leave of absence
acceptable?

Legislative Update: what impact may legislation have on business
immigration?

SECOND Phone Session on June 8, 2006: Family Immigration And Removal Issues

Non-immigrant visa options for family members: what visa
options are available? What are the criteria?

Immigrant visas: What's the impact of overstay and/or
unauthorized employment? What criminal issues lead to denial? What waivers
are available? When is adjustment possible during a removal process?

Removal Issues: Is cancellation of removal a good solution?
What are the issues connected to Mandatory Detention? Is voluntary removal a
good solution?

Inadmissibility vs. Removability: What's the significance of
inadmissibility and removability? What are the remedies for inadmissibility
and removability?

Legislative Update: what impact may legislation have on family
immigration?

THIRD Phone Session on July 13, 2006: Business Immigration Issues - Part
2

Reports from some of the busiest Consulates in East Asia

Consular Processing: Inadmissibility- what are the grounds of
inadmissibility for non-immigrant visas? What are the grounds of
inadmissibility for immigrant visas?, Waivers- what are the criteria for
waivers of inadmissibility for non-immigrant visas and immigrant visas? How
to apply for a waiver of inadmissibility, Dealing with Delays- Is it
possible to expedite an appointment? Is it possible to speed up the
security clearance processing? How to handle age-out cases? What impact may
legislation have on business immigration?

Schedule A cases: Is it possible to expedite processing to avoid
retrogression? What if the healthcare worker doesn't have a healthcare
certificate at the time of the interview? What if the work location has
changed since the approval of the I-140 petition?

H-2B and Other Essential Workers: which occupations qualify? How to
prove "temporary" need? How to deal with the quota?

Late Breaking Hot Topics including H-1B Cap Update

Legislative Update: what impact may legislation have on
consular procedures and processing times and other business immigration
issues?

Help Wanted: Immigration ParalegalFragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy (FDBL) seeks to hire an
experienced paralegal for its Washington D.C. office. FDBL offers a career position requiring a wide range of skills in a fast-paced setting for the right candidate. Our ideal candidate has 2+ years experience with all aspects of business immigration and will have the benefit of attorney supervision and guidance. Responsibilities include: preparation of all types
of immigrant visa petitions, labor certifications (PERM), adjustment of status and consular processing applications, and preparation of all types of nonimmigrant visa petitions (particularly Hs, Ls, and TNs). Paralegal will manage caseload with large degree of independence, communicate with clients regarding procedural and case processing issues, update and maintain client status reports, prepare bills, and serve as team resource. Comprehensive compensation pkg. Fax resume + cover letter to Allison Bettridge, HR/Office Manager, at 202-371-2898. For addtl info, please contact Ms.
Bettridge at 202-223-5515. FDBL is an equal opportunity employer.

Help Wanted: Immigration Attorneys
New York, NY - Full-time and part-time positions available at a boutique business immigration law firm in Midtown. We enjoy a diverse practice with a lot of client contact. Candidates must be detail-oriented, organized, self-starters, with excellent writing and interpersonal skills. Positions available for those with 1-2 years experience, and 2-5 years experience. Salary DOE. Fax resume + cover letter in confidence to: M. Bailey at (212) 818-0625 or email: mbailey@cohenlawfirm.com.

Help Wanted: Immigration Professional
Washington DC - Amnesty Intl (AI) seeks a Director for its Refugee Program. Duties: develop dynamic strategies to promote int'l human rights law and standards pertaining to refugees/asylum-seekers/other forcibly displaced persons; develops responses & actions on important policy questions, promotes AI's positions with Congress and federal agencies, and analyzes emerging areas of law; produces reports & activities for AIUSA's members concerning US asylum/refugee policy and works with AIUSA's membership structures to promote needed changes in US policy; maintain AI's standing among coalition partners. The AIUSA Refugee Program works in coordination with other AI national sections. Bachelor's degree required (advanced degree preferred) and 7+ years of professionally related work experience on refugee/asylum issues. Excellent knowledge of int'l legal standards related to asylum/refugee status. Excellent writing and analytical skills. Knowledge of int'l refugee issues and experience working with int'l refugee protection agencies highly desirable. For more info, see here. Send resume + cover letter to humanresources@aiusa.org or fax 202-546-7142. No calls please. EOE. Position open until filled.

Help Wanted: Immigration AttorneyThe Law Offices of Lichtman, Trister & Ross, an eight attorney firm, seeks an associate with 2+ years immigration law experience to join its immigration group comprised of two attorneys and two legal assistants. Located in Washington D.C.'s Dupont Circle in a collegial environment, the practice consists primarily of business
immigration with some family cases and adjustment of status interviews.
Excellent writing skills and attention to detail are essential. Competitive
salary and benefits are offered. Send cover letter, resume, + writing sample to Elliott Lichtman, elichtman@ltsrlaw.com.

Credential Evaluation And Translation
As the nation's leader in foreign credential evaluations and translations, American Evaluation and Translation Service, Inc. (AETS) provides the most competitive rates in the industry – $50 educational evaluations, as well as $200 'expert opinion' work experience and position evaluations completed by PhD university professors who have the "authority to grant college level credit for work experience and/or training." AETS offers a variety of turn-around times, including same-day service for educational, work experience, and position evaluations. For list of rates and times, see: http://aetsinternational.com/applicationforevaluationservices.pdf. AETS also provides certified translations in 100+ languages, with translators that are specialists in 80+ fields. For a copy of the Application for Credential Evaluation and Translation Services, please contact AETS at (786) 276-8190, visit http://www.aetsinternational.com, or email: info@aetsinternational.com.

Readers can share their professional announcements (100-words or fewer at no charge), email: editor@ilw.com. Readers interested in learning about featuring your event or conference in Immigration Daily, see here.

Readers are welcome to share their comments, email: editor@ilw.com (300-words or fewer preferred). Many letters to the Editor refer to past correspondence, available in our archives.

Dear Editor:
Responding to President Bush's proposal (05/15/06 ID comment), thousands of National Guard troops? Would this be the same National Guard that we couldn't muster enough of to deal with Hurricane Katrina?
Or would this be the same National Guard that has been deployed, and
deployed, and deployed again to Iraq? Or would this be the alternative
to the 9 or 10 thousand Border Patrol Agents that the President refused
to authorize or seek budget funding for back in December? After years of talk and then the opposite action, or more properly
inaction, by this administration, it is difficult for me not to be
cynical and view this as a desperate attempt to shore up the Republican
base for the '08 midterm elections. Well Mr. Rove, my part of the Republican base is not buying it and is increasingly disgusted at the comprehensive meltdown of immigration policy, procedures, and laws. I
should know as I deal on a daily basis in my practice with the mess this
administration and umpteen Congresses have made of the immigration issues. Maybe the President has not only seen the light but actually has the gumption to push something sensible that actually deals with this multiheaded issue. But I am not holding my breath. An increasingly fed up citizen,

Scott Hicks, Esq.

Dear Editor:
President Bush proposed his 5 point plan on immigration reform so I thought I would do the same (05/15/06 ID comment). I suggest electric fences, land mines, quicksand, rottweilers and of course no amnesty.

KO

Dear Editor:
Today there was speech by President Bush (05/15/06 ID comment) regarding immigration and for 12 millions illegals staying in USA. How was the reaction, and when sooner they are going to implement this guest workers program.

Cyril Charles

Dear Editor:
Illegal immigration must stop. Illegal immigrants should be sent back.

BNS Murphy

Dear Editor:
I think that it is totally unfair the things my children are being exploded to on tv regardin the immigration bill. My 13 year old son was very upset about the game of them shooting pregnant women men children as they cross the border. I trully beleive in the amnesty law 100%.

Barbara Brandow

An Important disclaimer! The information provided on this page is not legal advice. Transmission of this information is not intended to create, and receipt by you does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Readers must not act upon any information without first seeking advice from a qualified attorney. Copyright 1999-2006 American Immigration LLC, ILW.COM. Send correspondence and articles to editor@ilw.com. Letters and articles may be edited and may be published and otherwise used in any medium. The views expressed in letters and articles do not necessarily represent the views of ILW.COM.